US Targets Countries with Sanctions Over Migrant Flight Refusals
The United States is using sanctions to punish nations opposed to accepting migrant flights, marking a sharp escalation in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, just days after his return to the White House.
Colombia, a key US ally in Latin America, has become the first target of the administration’s sweeping retaliatory measures after rejecting US military planes carrying deported migrants.
Trump announced on Sunday that Colombia would face steep tariffs and financial penalties after President Gustavo Petro refused the flights, accusing the South American nation of undermining US national security.
The measures include a 25 percent tariff on Colombian goods, which will double in a week, travel bans on Colombian officials, and banking sanctions.
“This is just the beginning,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “We will not allow the Colombian government to violate its legal obligations regarding the acceptance of criminals they forced into the United States.”
He also ordered enhanced border inspections for Colombian cargo and nationals, underscoring the administration’s aggressive stance.
Colombian President Petro fired back, condemning the practice of using military aircraft for deportations.
“The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” Petro posted on X.
He proposed returning deportees on civilian flights and highlighted the presence of over 15,000 undocumented Americans in Colombia, vowing never to subject them to similar treatment.
Mexico, another critical trade partner, also denied a US military aircraft landing request last week. While Trump has not yet imposed sanctions on Mexico, he warned of potential 25 percent tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada starting February 1.
Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by a renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
Declaring illegal immigration a national emergency, he has directed the US military to bolster border security, imposed a broad asylum ban, and proposed restricting citizenship for children born on US soil.
The administration’s measures reflect a broader strategy to exert economic and political pressure on countries that resist cooperating with U.S. deportation policies. Colombia, the United States’ largest trade partner in South America, could face severe economic repercussions from the tariffs, which threaten billions of dollars in annual trade.
The new strategy highlights Trump’s willingness to use the US’s economic clout to enforce his immigration agenda, raising tensions with key allies.
ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org